Sections

Classes
Selection Process
Safety
General Program Questions

Classes

Where are the classes held?

We hold classes around the US, in a variety of woodshops, craft schools, private studios, community shops, and makerspaces. We work with teachers from all across the country. More details are given out when the schedule and applications are posted to the website. If exact details are needed, please fill out the form on the website  with questions. 

What is a class like?

Classes vary in length and structure, but most are full days, filled with lots of physical activity and production. If you are nervous about applying because you think you may not be strong or fast enough, don’t worry! All of our instructors are committed to supporting students as they develop chairmaking skills. There will be people available to help with partial production. Our priority is working with woodworkers who are committed to both improving their craft and developing their community. If you have concerns about the physical accessibility of a class, get in touch. 

After I’ve applied for a class, when will I be notified?

Each class should have a notification date listed on the website. We do our best to give students at least two months before the first day of class to arrange time off work, find housing, and coordinate travel. Because our goal is to offer as many classes as possible, we will sometimes offer a class with a shorter notification timeline. 

What are the types of opportunities offered by The Chairmaker’s Toolbox?

CMT offers a range of opportunities, including assistantships, tool donations, plans and subscriptions, and chairmaking classes. Our classes primarily take three forms: 

Affinity Class
Affinity classes are CMT-organized classes where all students receive a full-tuition scholarship. On occasion, some scholarships also cover the cost of materials, housing, and/or travel. While all of our classes are designed for students who identify as historically excluded in the field of chairmaking, Affinity Classes sometimes offer a more focused lens such as: LGBTQIA+ woodworkers, educators, advanced woodworkers, or professional furniture makers. At least one teacher or assistant teacher will identify as a member of group that the class serves. 

In an Affinity Class, all instructors, assistants, and students are required to sign and abide by the CMT Code of Conduct.

Scholarship and Standby Seats are classes organized by institutions and instructors that are external to CMT. Unlike our Affinity Classes, there is no guarantee that any other students in these classes will identify as historically excluded in the woodworking field, though instructors and the scholarship recipients will still be required to sign and abide by the CMT Code of Conduct. Other students will not have signed the CMT Code of Conduct unless the instructor requires it. A CMT rep will always be available for you to contact with concerns via phone, zoom, or email during your session.

These seats take two forms:

Scholarship Seat
CMT Scholarship Seats are fully-funded seats offered in classes that are organized by an established instructor or institution external to CMT.

Standby Seat 

A Standby Seat is a last-minute opportunity to take an open, tuition-free, or partially funded spot in an upcoming class. To be considered for a standby seat, prospective students must apply and be accepted as standby candidates. CMT maintains a list of vetted and qualified candidates who can be contacted to fill an open class spot on short notice. You can apply to be added to this list at any time. Once contacted, standby candidates have 24 hours to accept or reject the opportunity before CMT offers the seat to another person on the list. Standby seat tuition and materials are covered by the instructor or institution. 

How much does it cost to attend a class?

Most of our scholarships only cover tuition, though some opportunities will also subsidize materials. We will always let you know in the class description so that there are no surprises. Typically, chairmaking classes cost $1400–2000 in tuition alone. We’re so pleased to be able to lift that burden, but we understand that housing, food, lost wages, and travel can still make attendance prohibitive. We are in the process of developing a Solidarity Fund to allow our community to support housing and travel stipends.

Do I have to be an accomplished woodworker or artist to attend a class with The Chairmaker’s Toolbox?

No! Our goal is to increase access and equity in the field and we are here to support emerging makers as well as chairmakers who are hoping to advance their careers or looking for skill-specific opportunities. Even “intensive” classes like building a Windsor chair are open to new woodworkers. Some classes may have skill prerequisites, but these will always be listed in the class description. 

The Application & Selection Process

Who is eligible for Chairmaker’s Toolbox Scholarships?

To be eligible for a CMT scholarship a student must:

• Be 18 years of age or older

• Be able to travel to the United States

• Not be a CMT board member or one of their family members

• Not have not won a CMT scholarship within 6 months

• Align with any other requirements specific to the class

What is the selection process for CMT Scholarships and Educational Opportunities?

Makers are evaluated by a geographically diverse and rotating group of community organizers, chairmakers, educators, and Chairmaker’s Toolbox (CMT) volunteers. Over the span of two weeks, applications are reviewed by a panel that recommends finalists for approval. Selected students are notified prior to the public announcement and will be given a few days to confirm attendance.

What is the selection criteria?

Your application will be reviewed based on your story, your work, and your goals for yourself and this field —- CMT students do NOT need to be experienced woodworkers. 

Panelists evaluate applications based on the following.

• Need: Is the applicant particularly vulnerable in traditional woodworking spaces? We prioritize woodworkers who may not feel safe in a class that is open to the public, even if they received a full scholarship.

• Impact: What is the applicant’s potential impact on their community or the field of chairmaking? We believe in the ripple effect and are looking for applicants who aim to have a positive impact on their immediate community, the field, to The Chairmaker’s Toolbox, or to the sponsoring institution. 

• Timing: Is this the right time in the artist’s professional or creative development for this award?

• Tie-breaker preference: In the event of a tie, preference will be given to applicants who have applied before and have not been selected for a class. 

Who is on the selection committee?

Selection committees are composed of no fewer than 3 jurors, typically including the instructor, the class assistant, and a prior recipient of a Chairmaker’s Toolbox class scholarship. Sometimes juries will include a representative from the host institution. The majority of jurors must identify as a member of the affinity group that the scholarship serves.

When applying for a class, do I have to submit images?

While we welcome images and sometimes ask scholarship applicants for images directly, submitting them is always optional and choosing not to won’t hurt your chances of receiving a scholarship! We ask for, and like getting, images from students because it helps us promote your work, support you as an alum, and sometimes helps find other opportunities for you that more closely align with your work or style. But, if you’re more comfortable not sharing images, we support that too.

Can I win multiple scholarships?

Yes, it is possible to win multiple scholarships. However, we recommend that prior scholarship winners apply to assist in a class. Not only does this free up the scholarship for someone who hasn’t received one yet, it gives the returning student a chance to get hands-on time with the prep work and other practical skills involved with structuring a class. We think it’s a great next step for someone who has already participated in a class as a student. 

Are international applicants eligible for scholarships?

We happily host students from outside of the United States, however we are unable to offer in-depth support for VISA applications. International students are responsible for contacting the American Consulate in their home country to find out the specific visa requirements based on the type of program and length of stay. If there are specific ways that we can support your application or travel needs please let us know. 

Safety

Vaccination, Face Covering, and Social Distancing

While in the physical space of the class, masking policies will be determined by the comfort level of the students and instructors.

What if I need physical or mobility accommodations?

Please contact CMT through our website if you have any questions or concerns about your participation. We will do our best to support all students in engaging with chairmaking classes and other educational opportunities.

What are the CMT Community Guidelines?

CMT requires that all scholarship winners, assistants, and instructors read and sign our Code of Conduct. We highly recommend that all potential participants read through our class types (above) to see which CMT offering is right for you. 

What happens if I feel unsafe in class?

Any participant who experiences or witnesses a violation of the Code of Conduct will have a CMT representative who they can contact anonymously or by phone, email or zoom. CMT will support individuals who report violations of the Code of Conduct as they navigate their options, their class, and their experience. 

Can I visit a Chairmaker’s Toolbox class and see what is happening in the studio?

Sometimes! We take our responsibility to create protected space very seriously and this extends to visitors in class. If you’d like to visit, you can get in touch with the class assistant and they will speak with the students and instructor. If everyone agrees, the assistant will let you know, but please understand that visitation is dependent on class consensus and the hosting institution. 

General Program Questions

How do I get from the airport to the class site?

We do our best to coordinate transportation to and from airports for our students. This might mean sharing a ride with other scholarship winners, or it might mean an instructor coming to pick you up. It is usually organized after all participants have been selected and we have a better sense of peoples’ travel plans. In short: It depends! 

Do I need a car while I am in class?

A car is not a requirement, but it can be helpful. Once selected, we help students connect with each other to coordinate car sharing and housing (see below).

What are my housing options?

In the case of Full Affinity classes, we try our best to help students connect with each other for housing; once all students are selected there will be an opportunity to discuss reserving shared accomodations. It is very common for students to split Airbnbs with each other. The hosting institution or instructor will often have additional housing recommendations and resources.

What should I bring with me?

Tools and materials are provided by the instructor and the institution running your class. You are not expected to bring any tools or materials. In some cases, we might ask you to bring a specific tool if you happen to have it. If you don’t, that’s ok! We do always recommend bringing your own basic protective gear like safety glasses and over-ear hearing protection to guarantee comfort and safety.

If I fly, how do I get my chair home with me?

Most classes will end with a finished chair. However, students can opt to not glue up their work and instead pack the parts in a checked bag. You may want to research your airline’s oversized bag restrictions before class. In some cases, a glued-up chair can be packed in a cardboard box and be checked as oversized luggage. If you choose to glue up, the host institution or instructor will help coordinate freight transportation for your chair, at the student’s expense.

Any questions that we haven’t answered here? Reach out to us through the contact form on our website.